Ship&#39;s telegraph.



I. W.' WOOD.

SHIPS TELEGRAPH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1910.

1,078,653, Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

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Frank/ Z Wand Wikmaooco UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

FRANK W. WOODQOF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO CHARLES CORY 8a SON, INCL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SHIPS TELEGRAPH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. June 39, 1910.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Fnann IV. Noon, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ships Telegraphs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a ships telegraph adapted to-signal the course of a ship to another ship automatically upon change of course of the ship. In fleets of war vessels the movement of a fleet in column, line, or other formation, is guided by the flag ship. At the present time the movements desired are signaled by the time honored method of signaling by flags, or lights hoisted to the yardarms or mast, This method is slow and cumbersome. By my invention I do away with flag signals and accomplish the same result by a far more rapid and reliable manner by the use of electricity.

I make use of an electrically operated signal placed upon a mast, yardarm or at some other suitable point. Preferably I make use of a semaphore'connected for automatic operation by a motor in response to movements of the helm or wheel of the ship, the arrangement being such that as the ships courses are changed, the change is automatically signaled to other ships following.

" In the best embodiment of my invention now known to me, I make use of a semaphore in the form of a bar centrally mounted on the shaft of a motor. The motor is of the synchronous type adapted for step by step movement in accordance with the movement of a controlling switch. The controlling switch which I prefer to use is connected to the helm or to the wheel in such relation that its movements correspond in position;

with the movement of the helm or wheel.

I thus make the motor move the semaphore in direct accordance with the movement of: the wheel or helm. I provide also lights on i the semaphore for night use when the bar cannot readily be seen. The lights I make red, green,. and white and provide means controlled by the semaphore for lighting the lamps of colors corresponding with its position port, amidships or starboard.

I shall describe in detail the embodiment of my invention which I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings :Figure 1 is.

a diagramatically laid out view of the telegraph of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view of the semaphore equipped with electric lamps, and mounted upon the shaft of its operating motor, and Figs. 3 to 7 are diagrammatic views of the several positions of the semaphore.

The semaphore, designated by 10, is mounted on the shaft of a motor 11, which motor is of the step by step type. The motor shown has a field-structure of four poles, A, B, C and D, adapted to be energized and made north or south in various combinations. The armature 12 or rotating part of the motoris a polarized armature supplied with current from a suitable source S. As well understood in the art, the armature of the four pole motor of this type may be made to assume eight different positions 45 apart around its axis, The semaphore on the motor shaft may therefore be likewise given positions definitely 15 apart.

The field poles, A, B, C and D of the motor 11 are connected at one end respectively by conductors a, b, 0 and d, each to a bus line a, b, c and d from which bus lines connections are made to contacts 15 of a series of magnet switches,E, F, G, H, I, controlled directly by the transmitter of the helm indicator 17. The opposite ends of the field poles are connected to a continuous conductor z. the bus lines in such combinations that each switch when closed will energize all or a part of the motor field magnets A, B, C and D in such combinations and with polarities differing from that produced by theother switches as to cause the armature with its semaphore to assume a distinctive position The contacts 15 are connected to with relation to a fixed point. Each switch is provided with two movable contact members 18, 18 cooperating with the fixed contacts 15 associated with the bus lines and conductors connecting with the motor field poles. Normally the contact members 18, 18 of the switches are down'or away from the fixed contacts 15 which latter contacts are arranged in such manner as respects their co-nnections with the several field poles that each switch when its coil 16 is energized raises its contact members 18, .18" against the fixed contact 15 and energizes the poles of the motor in a definite combination of north and south to secure a definite position of the armature and semaphore. As shown, there are arranged five of these magnetic switches on its shaft may be directly operated from the helm indicator transmitter, but it is undeslrable that the transmitter carry large currents such as are necessary for operating the large semaphore signal. Further,

the helm indicator transmitter can be used in its usually constructed form and without additional complication, lVhen switches such as disclosed are used they may be located at the motor or at the foot of the mast. The operating cable leading from the helm indicator transmitter may be made quite small in size as compared with'the cables leading from the conductors to the motor, thus a saving is made in the first cost of the cable. A further advantage results from the use of the conductors in that they may be placed in any suitable position where they will be readily accessible for change of combinations or for repairs.

From the source of power S extend power lines X and Y, these lines being marked and respectively, and extend .to corresponding contacts 00 and y of the switches. The contact 02 is in each case inposition to make the lower contact member 18 of each switch of positive polarity, while the contact 7 in each case will make the upper contact member of each switch of negative polarity. The blades 18, 18 of the switches are thus marked and The operation of the apparatus throughthe switches will nowbe described and for the sake of brevity but one step will be entered into in detail.

Referring particularly to the, central switch E, it will be seen that connection is made from each of the bus lines a and d down to contacts 15 in position to be closed by the positive blade 18 of the switch E and from bus lines o and c to contacts 15 in position to be closed by the negative blade 18 It will thus be clear that all four of the magnets, A, B, C, and D are energized, the current passing in through the magnets A and D, around the conductor a and out through the magnets 13 and C. Assuming thatthe helm indicator 17 occupies the central position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1 and also that the switch E is closed, the field magnets A, B, C and D of the motor will be energized to cause the armature M to swing to a position in line midway between the magnets A, D, and B, C. Upon move ment of the helm t1 ansmitter 17 to the full line position, the circuit through the switch E is disconnected and a circuit through the switch F established thereby causing the blades 18, 18 of the switch F to close against the contacts 15. Magnets 13, D of the motor will then be energized with the same polarity as they were previously, while 'in the ships course.

magnets A, C are deenergized, these latter magnets not being connected to contacts at the switch F. Immediately the armature M moves to the full line position shown in which its axis coincides with the axis of the magnets B, 'D. Similarly, movement still farther in a clockwise direction of the helm transmitter opens the switch F and closes the switch G. Again, all four of the motor magnets, A, B, C, D, are energized, but magnets A and C are energized in a reverse direction from what they were when the central switch E was closed. Therefore, instead of the armature M moving back to its original position it will move forward so that its axis lies in a horizontal plane, passing between magnets A, B and D, C.

Similarly, the motor may be turned step bystep as the helm indicator is moved in the opposite direction and after the central position has been passed, if switch H be closed to energize the magnets A, O, the armature will rotate and lie in line with said magnets; while a step farther of the'transmitter 17 will close the switch I and energize magnets A and B of the motor in the same direction as was magnet A before, and magnets C and D in the opposite direction, thus carrying the armature M step by step anticlockwise in the same manner as it was carried beforeclockwise.

As thus organized it is evident that an automatic telegraph has been devised which will quickly and reliably signal all changes Preferably thecombination of poles secured by the magnetic switches is such that five successive positions of the semaphore 455 apart may be made. One of these positions is the amidships position, as shown in Fig. 5, in which the semaphore points vertically upward. The remaining combinations give two positions on each side of the amidships position, a 45 position, right and left as shown in Figs. 4: and 6 indicating starboardand port respectively, and a 90 position, right and left indicating hard starboard and hard port, as shown inFigs. 3 and 7. A fixed reference index 19 vertically above the center of the semaphore serves as an aid in reading signals. This index may be a disk, as shown, or a marking member of some other form.

At nightthe-semaphore is not visible and therefore lights are provided to be used in connection therewith. These lights consist of a series of electric lamps located in groups "of three colors, red, white and green, in series on'the face of the semaphore as shown. Connections from the lights are made along the back of the semaphore to a circuit closer 20, comprising three contact rings 21, 22 and 23 on the motor shaft as shown in Fig. 1. Electric current is supplied to these rings from a source of power through conductors 24, connected in any suitable way with the mains XY. The contact surfaces of the rings are arranged as diagrammatically indicated, so that as the semaphore is moved from side to side, the contacts make and break the current so as to light up the lamps corresponding to the position of the semaphore. Thus if the semaphore is moved to right to indicate starboard, the green lamps are lighted; if the semaphore is moved to the left to indicate port the red lights flash out, and if the semaphore is vertical to indicate amidships, the white lights are illuminated. The signals may thus be readily seen both by night and by day; and by night in addition to the indication of position, there is an indication of color giving the device an increased reliability of operation. Preferably at night I provide a fixed light at the index 19 for the amidships position, thus giving the semaphore a referenceindex by night as well as by day.

While the best form of the device now known has been described, it' should be evimodifications not falling without the genericspirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A. ships telegraph comprising a semaphore on a mast, an electric motor, the poles of which may be energized in different combinationsto give the semaphore a series 01 different positions, a source of power, electrically operated switches each arranged to connect said poles to said source of power in a different combination, and a controller for individually energizing said switches in accordance with changes in the course of a ship.

2. A ships telegraph comprising a semaphore n a mast, an electric motor, the poles of which may be energized in different combinations to give the semaphore a series'ot diflerent positions, electricallyoperated switches each arranged to connect certain of said poles to a source of power in a different combination, and a controller for operating said switches consecutively'in accordance with changes in the course of a ship.

3. ships telegraph comprising a semaphore on a mast, an electric motor, the poles of which may be energized indifferent combinations to give the semaphore a series of different positions, a source of electric power,

electrically operated switches each arranged to connect said poles to said source of power in a diiferent combination, a controller for independently energizing said switches in accordance with changes in the course of a ship, series of. lights of different colors mounted on the semaphore, and connected to the source of electric power, and switches connected between the source of power and the lights adapted to be automatically closed to illuminate the lights of a predetermined color depending upon the position of the semaphore with relation to a fixed point.

4. A ships telegraph comprising a semaphore, an electric motor for operating said semaphore to move the same to definite positions to and from a normal amidships po sition, a series of switches each controlling the flow of current through said motor in a different direction, there being a plurality of paths for said current through the motor, whereby the closing of any switch will cause said motor and semaphore to' turn to a position distinctive from that assumed on closing any other switch, electric means for controlling said switches, three groups each consisting of a plurality of lamps mounted on said semaphore, means controlled by the movement of the motor for lighting and maintaining lighted one of said groups of lamps when the semaphore is in amidships -position, said means extinguishing said amidships light and lighting one or the other of the remaining groups when the semaphore is to one side or the other of amidships position.

5. A'ships telegraph comprising a semaphore, an electric motor for operating said semaphore to move the same to definite positions to and from a normal amidships position, a series of switches each. control ling the flow of current through said motor in a different direction, there being a plurality of paths for said current through the n1otor,whereby the closing of any switch will cause said motor and semaphore to turn to a position distinctive from that assumed on the closing of any other switch, electric means for controlling said switches, three groups each comprising a plurality of. lamps mounted on said semaphore, means for lighting one group of said lamps when said semaphore is in amidships position, means for lighting and maintaining lighted another group of lamps when said semaphore is in either of two definite positions on one side of said amidships position, means for lighting the third group of lamps when said semaphore is in either of two positions on the other side of amidships position, and means for controlling said-semaphore operating means.

6. In a ships telegraph, an index light on a mast, a semaphore which normally points to such light, means for moving said semaphore to position to right and left of said index light, means whereby said semaphore is illuminated by light of the same color as the light of the. index when the semaphore is in index position, means whereby said semaphore is illuminated by lights of a different color when said semaphore is in position to right and left of said index, and means for moving said semaphore in response to changes in the course of a ship.

7 A ships telegraph comprising a semaphore, a step by step motor for operating the same, adapted to give the semaphore two definite positions 'on each side of amidships position, a helm operated transmitter having contacts determining the steps of said motor and the resulting positions of said semaphore, lights arranged in two groups, controlling circuits for said lights,

switches operated by the motor cont-rolling the said circuits, one of said switches controlling the circuit of one group being adapted to close and maintain closed the circuit of that group of lamps while the motor passes through two successive steps in one direction, and the switch controlling another group of said lamps being adapted to close and maintain closed the circuit of that group while the motor is caused to move through two successive steps in 0p.- posite direction.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setmy hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FRANK W. WOOD.

Witnesses:

VILLIAM A. TUCKER, J. GRANVILLE MEYERS. 

